74.7 F
Charlotte Amalie
Friday, March 29, 2024
HomeNewsArchivesFirstBank Honors Students Who Save the Most

FirstBank Honors Students Who Save the Most

June 22, 2007 – Although many students today are excited about how to spend money, at least 3 students in the USVI are excited about exactly the opposite: saving money. These students were honored recently by FirstBank for showing their clear commitment to saving as they saved the most among all FirstBank student account holders. The recognition came as a result of participation in the Students First at FirstBank program, an educational and practical saving program where the bank's staff visit classrooms to teach important banking concepts, including how to develop the habit of saving money.
Students First was initiated by FirstBank in the territory's public schools during the last 3 ½ years and is expanding to include other schools and student-oriented programs as scheduling allows. Bank representatives, who share with the students the benefits of saving and spending money wisely, conduct presentations. After the presentations are complete, students have the opportunity to open their own savings account with a minimum deposit of $5. To date, over 1,200 students have opened Students First accounts and are rewarded with the benefits of saving.
At the end of each school year, savings results are measured to determine the student who saved the most on St. Thomas, St. John and St. Croix. The winners receive a certificate of achievement and a $50 savings bond from FirstBank. The winners for the 2006-2007 school year are
· St. Thomas: Julaleen Esannason attending Nisky Moravian School; St. John: Irvin Marsh attending Julius Sprauve School; and St. Croix: Argenis Bermudez attending Ricardo Richards Elementary School.
"This is a tremendous opportunity for students to impact their future," said Alicia Bean, FirstBank vice president "Practically learning the value of saving at this age can translate into a host of benefits and advantages in young adulthood. With the Students First account as an initial platform, we hope to make a significant contribution toward the students' achieving their greatest dreams."
Enrollment in the program also includes a number of fun-filled benefits as each account holder receives an automatic membership in the Students First Kids Club. Once they receive a membership card in the mail, Kids Club members are entitled to receive a bi-annual newsletter, invitations to special activities and special offers at participating businesses. The official club mascot, Seemore the Sea Turtle, appears at Kids Club events and participates as well at a variety of cultural and island events. Seemore's motto is: "Saving Is Fun!"
To learn more about Students First savings program log on to www.firstbankvi.com or call 775-8802.

Print Friendly, PDF & Email
Keeping our community informed is our top priority.
If you have a news tip to share, please call or text us at 340-228-8784.

Support local + independent journalism in the U.S. Virgin Islands

Unlike many news organizations, we haven't put up a paywall – we want to keep our journalism as accessible as we can. Our independent journalism costs time, money and hard work to keep you informed, but we do it because we believe that it matters. We know that informed communities are empowered ones. If you appreciate our reporting and want to help make our future more secure, please consider donating.